Next Real Madrid Manager Contenders… Again

For the second time in five months, footballing powerhouse Real Madrid are hunting for a new manager. Zinedine Zidane walked from the role after claiming his third straight Champions League title and after a thoroughly underwhelming four months in charge, his replacement Julen Lopetegui has been sacked. When a job like this opens up we normally spend hours carefully crafting a list of genuine candidates that warrant consideration. But then we remembered we ran this same story in June, so instead, here’s an update on the candidates we suggested then.

Arsene Wenger

Perhaps the best available manager on the market right now, Real Madrid just might decide to pounce on the 68 year old Frenchman. After all, he is just out of a 22 year relationship in England, so a year or two abroad in Spain might be the perfect rebound.

UPDATE: He’s still available and actively courting coaching jobs. We know Real have approached him before…

Credit: Mirror UK

Mauricio Pochettino

While he may have just signed is in just the first season of a new deal with Tottenham, Pochettino is one of the leading options to replace Zidane Lopetegui. If his agent knows what he was doing there would be a clause in that extension giving him an out if a club like Real Madrid came calling. Not to mention he would love to get that winning feeling back after four plus trophyless seasons with Tottenham.

Luis Enrique

After a year out of the game, it would make El Classico matchups that little bit more intriguing if Real were managed by a former Barca man. His record of two league titles, four Spanish cups, a Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup certainly stacks up with the best and he might just give Real that edge in the title race. Not to mention the whole “former Madrid player” angle that will surely go down well.

UPDATE: Unfortunately it may be a bit difficult to bring Enrique in now, he’s taken Lopetegui’s old job with Spain

Sam Allardyce

There are plenty of egos in that Real Madrid dressing room and Allardyce might be one of the few people who has enough self-confidence to challenge those players. All you really need to know is this gem from him in 2010, “I’m not suited to Bolton or Blackburn, I would be more suited to Internazionale or Real Madrid. It wouldn’t be a problem to me to go and manage those clubs because I would win the Double or the league every time.” Really it would be a disservice to the Madrid fans if he was not given a chance.

Laurent Blanc

Already with big club experience after his time with Paris Saint-Germain, Blanc was touted as a possible Arsenal manager. One slight issue with Blanc is the fact he never made it past the quarter finals of the Champions League and that obviously would not be good enough for a club that has just won three straight. He is still available so his phone may be ringing as you read this.

Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid have had plenty of managers, with 14 15 this millennium and going through seven eight in the last decade alone, so eventually they may have to re-hire a former employee. Ancleotti actually had a decent spell at the club, winning just under 75% of his games in his two year span plus a Copa del Rey, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and a Club World Cup. Why not bring him back and give him another crack at that league title? After all, that first stint wasn’t all bad was it?

UPDATE: Currently managing Napoli, who sit third in Serie A, Ancelotti may not want to go back to Spain right now.

Alan Pardew

Two words are all that is needed to describe why this appointment would work: sideline dancing.

via GIPHY

Jurgen Klopp

It would be funny if days or even weeks a few months after defeating Liverpool in the Champions League Final, Real Madrid took Liverpool’s highly touted manager just for an extra kick. Klopp is unlikely to leave Anfield having built a side to get them to the Champions League Final but it would just be hilarious if that happened.

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Cristiano Ronaldo

Despite teasing that he may leave the club in the aftermath of the Champions League Final, this would be one way to keep the five time Ballon d’Or winner happy. After all, he is technically 1-0 coaching Portugal in the Euro 2016 final

LeBron James

Already part of the footballing world with his minority stake in Liverpool, LeBron did an excellent job playing and coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat for most of his NBA career. After making such a big deal of his move to the LA Lakers, another move, especially overseas won’t really work out. Although with his athleticism, if he ever did switch to football, he could probably be useful for a few minutes every year.

Brendan Rodgers

He may already be looking up how to translate some of his more famous quotes into Spanish, starting with “My biggest mentor is myself because I’ve had to study and that’s been my biggest influence.” Yep Rodgers to Real can only end in joy for everyone. No update needed, we are all in favour if this.